Sign in toOregonLive.com

Occupy Portland: the rise and fall of 2011's tent city (video, photos)

Occupy Portland: a look back, four years laterFour years after Occupy Portland took over Chapman and Lownsdale Squares in downtown Portland, The Oregonian's archival footage provides a look back at the occupation from its beginning on October 6th, 2011 through its eviction the following November 13th.

To mark the fourth anniversary of the dramatic confrontation in Lownsdale and Chapman squares, The Oregonian/OregonLive is for the first time posting high-definition video from the protest against social and economic inequality.

Culled from hours of footage, these five videos flashback to key moments during the six-week occupation.

Less than a week after Occupy Portland's initial march drew 10,000 people to Pioneer Courthouse Square, protesters had set up an unpermitted tent city across the street from City Hall and the Multnomah County Courthouse. The occupation included blocking off part of Main Street, a busy thoroughfare, prompting complaints about traffic snarls from commuters. "Who can't drive three blocks around for the revolution?" asked one protestor. "It only takes a 30 second drive."

After city Commissioner Nick Fish expressed concern about the encampment destroying two blocks of public parks, The Oregonian/OregonLive took a tour of the pop-up protest village. It quickly became apparent that campers weren't all on the same page about what they were protesting. Was it corporate greed, organized religion or Facebook? Still, you could get a free massage or shoeshine, even if you were with the vilified mainstream media. (Note: We insisted on paying the shoe-shiner for his hard work.)

Occupy Portland: EvictionOccupy Portland representatives hold a press conference to publicly object to the methods used by Portland police to clear their camp.

Nov. 15, 2011

Responding to escalating crime and police overtime costs at the tent city, Adams ordered it dismantled at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 13. Most occupiers followed orders to vacate the Plaza Blocks immediately. Police forcefully removed others. Two days later, Occupy Portland demonstrators held a press conference to denounce what they called deplorable police actions against an "unarmed, peaceful and joyful protest."